Means for and method of finishing concrete surfaces



May 27, 1930. y

J. w. HELT'ZEL MEANS FOR AND METHOD 01%' FINISHING CONCRETE sURFAcEs fFiled Marchv 24, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 27, 1930- J. w. HEL'rz-El.. 1,760,596r

MEANS FORv AND METHOD OF FINISHING CONCRETE SURFACES l 'Filed March 24,1 192s s sheets-sheet 2 MEANS FOR AND METHOD oF FINISHING CONCRETE sURFAcES HELTZEL May 27, 1930.

Filed March 24, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 In/vento@ @FICE JOSEPH VLLIAM'. HELTZEL, OF NAB/REN, OHIO `:lifulAil'S FOR AND METHOD OF FIINISHXNG CONCRETE SURFAGES `Application filed March 24, 1925. Serial No. 17,940.

The present invention relates to means for the scope of What is claimed, Without departand methods of finishing the surfaces of coning from the spirit of the invention. crete roads, pavements, side-Walks, oors, The invention is illustrated in the accomplatforms, and the like, and aims to provide panying drawings, whereina novel and improved device for and `method Figure 1 is a perspective view of the finish- 55 'of pressing or "rolling down high spots on ing roller or device as in use manually in conthe surface of the concrete, as Well as smoothnection With a travelling carriage or bridge. ing the surface and having a straight-edge Fig. 2 is a detail view showing one end poreffect. tion of the roller in longitudinal section.

`-io Another object of the invention is to pro- Fig. 3 is a plan vievv showing the roller 60 videan elongated roller of small diameter With modified operating. means to Vbe used and of such Weight as to exert the desired interchangeably VWith the handles shown in pressure on the concrete When the concrete Fig. l. p has reachedacertain stage of natural settling, Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one end so as to effectively finish the surface by pressportion of the roller as shown in Fig. 3. v `65 ing down the high spots, `and driving out Fig. 5 is a perspective View corresponding Water and air that remain after the natural to Fig. l illustrating modifications wherein `eXuding of the greater portion thereof. means are mounted on the carriage for mov- A further object is the provision of suoli a Iing the roller and for supporting the roller :2S roller having separately or independently1 for movement Withthe carriage. 70 operable means at its opposite ends for mov- Fig. 6 is across section of the apparatus ing the roller over'the surface of the conshovvn in Fig. 5. y crete, and permitting, if desired, either end In carrying out the invention the roller 7 to receive a moving force independently of is of comparatively long length, being from theiother end. for convenience and efficiency ten to sixteen feet long. A sixteen foot roller 75 in using the roller. is preferred, although a shorter roller may A further obl'ect `is the provision of a be desirable when Working on steep hills. It

novel travelling bridge to move over the suris `also essential that the roller be of small face` of the concrete and adapted to accom- Vdiameter' and that it be sufiiciently heavy to modate the finishing roller or device for accomplish the purposes for which it is in- 80 movement across the surface of the concrete, tended. The roller is about six inches in and also having means for supporting the diameter, and has a Weight of from 18 to 30 Workmen. Y pounds'per foot in length with a diameter A still further object is the provision of of substantially six inches. If the roller is a travelling carriage or bridge in combina'- of smaller diameter then the Weight thereof 85 tion With a finishing roller or device and per unit length is less, Whereas if the roller means carried by the carriage for moving is of larger diameter the Weight per unit `said roller or device over the surface of the length is greater, so that the Weight of the concrete; and another object, in this connecroller is in 4proportion to the area of contact 4.o tion, is to provide means whereby the finishof the roller With the concrete, such area of ing roller or device may be carried by the concrete increasing in proportion to the incarriage to. be moved to different positions crease in diameter of the roller. The roller conveniently for successive finishing operis cheaply and conveniently produced from ations. a lengthof heavy pipe, such as a section of si.; With the forewoin and other ob'ects in cast iron ipe. and ma even be filled with 95 a g l P Y vievv,vvhich will be apparent as the descripsolid concrete or other Weighting medium in tion proceeds, the invention `resides in the order to obtain the desired Weight of the construction and arrangement of parts, as roller.

hereinafter described and claimed, it being As shown in Figs. l and 2, the operating 5o understood that changes can be made Within means for pushing or pulling the opposite 100 ends of the roller comprise bars 8 having outstanding handles 9 at their upper ends, and the lower ends of the handles are pivotally engaged with the opposite ends of the roller. Thus, plugs 10 and other suitable members are secured in the ends of the roller and trunnions or pivots 11 may be screwed or otherwise secured within said plugs and engage through apertures in the bars 8 for loosely connecting said bars with the roller.

The bars 8 are disconnected and independent of one another, in order that two Workmen may conveniently operate the roller on the surface of the concrete, as suggested in Fig. 1. The illustration shows the device used for smoothing down the surface of a concrete road after the concrete has settled to a predetermined stage as hereinafter described.

A travelling carriage or bridge 12 is conveniently employed for operating the roller, having wheels 13 that roll on the side rails or forms 14 which define the edges or sides of the road. The carriage has boards or planks 15 at is front and rear extending transversely across the road and spaced apart suciently to accommodate the roller between them. The workmen wall: along the boards or platforms 15 in moving the roller transversely across the road with the roller disposed substantially longitudinally of the road. The handle bars 8 may be used to push or pull the ends of the roller, or one man may pull the corresponding end of the roller while the other man pushes his end ofthe roller. It is also possible for either workmen to push or pull his end of the roller while the other end of the roller is held against movement. This enables the'roller to be angled on the concrete surface, when desirable for smoothing down the concrete, or for advancing the roller in moving it forwardly and backwardly across the road in a Zig-Zag manner. The roller being of considerable length and being perfectly straight, will act as a straight edge longitudinally of the road to smooth down thesurface. The carriage or bridge is entirely open or unobstructed between the platforms or boards 15, and between the side rails or forms 14, in order that the roller 7 may operate without interference on the surface of the concrete between said platforms or boards.

The frame of the carriage comprises longitudinal side beams 17 which are located outwardly beyond the side rails or forms 14, and the transverse trusses 18. Said trusses and beams are connected by braces 19. Uprights 20 are secured to the'trusses 18 between the ends thereof and are connected at their upper ends by a bar 21 which is suiiciently high to permit the workmen to walk under said bar 21. The uprights 20 and bar 21 provide an arch connecting the front and rear trusses 18 so as to brace and strengthen the frame of the carriage without obstructing the space between the platforms or boards 15.

The roller being of the weight hereinbefore mentioned is especially useful on the concrete after it has passed through its initial settling action. When the concret-e or aggregate is poured", such as when building a concrete road, it settles down of its own accord as the water gradually trickles out and the air escapes. It is after such natural eX- uding or oozing out of the water and air, and not before, that the present roller is used, in order to still further settle the concrete and bring out more of the remaining water and air. The concrete is brought to this condition in a natural way, and this stage is reached immediately after the free water has drained off. With the concrete in this condition, a second stage is produced with the application of the roller to the concrete, which compresses and forces down the aggregate. Thus, the stone and sand are forced into the pockets, which previously contained airand water, resulting in the forcing out of still more air and water. Furthermore., the compressive action of the roller will cause the particles of stone, gravel, sand and cement to be wedged together more closely, thereby producing a concrete structure of greater strength and density than produced by the use of a light floating roller. The present roller being of the weight hereinbefore indicated will, when passing over high spots inthe Concrete, press them down. The present roller cannot be used on freshly laid concrete be cause it will sink therein, being too heavy to be used as a floating roller, and a floating roller is not required, nor is it present.

The concrete after being poured, regardless of how smooth it may be surfaced immediately after pouring, will, after vthe water is drained therefrom, again have an uneven surface. This is due to the fact that more water exists in some spots than others. Consequently at one spot where there is an excess of water, a low place or depression will be left on the surface of the road, and at other spots which are drier there may be raised portions in the surface. It is for the crushing or pressing down of the concrete and especially high spots subsequent' to preliminary .finishing that the roller is intended, the roller when passing over the high spots crushing them down and pressing them flat. At the same time, the weight of the roller will spread the concrete at the high spots, so as to level off the surface, and to bring out more of the remaining water.

Ordinarily, when concrete is agitated as is done by excessive tamping, a grout composed of water, cement and sand is brought to the top, at times even as much as one inch in depth. This is contrary to the ideal condition, wherein the mixture should be just `the stops 16 against which the roller contacts when moved to the rails 14.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification, the handle bars 8 being removed and substituted by operating means Which enable the roller to be operated with the Workmen at the oppo- "site sides of the road. Thus, short bars 8 are loosely mounted. between their ends on the trunnions or pivots 11, which may be removed to receive either the bars 3 or theV bars 8. Vires, ropes or other flexible elements 9 are secured to the opposite ends of the bars 3', and there are two flexible elements at each end of the roller extending to the opposite sides of the road. rFhese flexible element-s may be grasped in the hands of the Workmen for alternately pulling the roller to the opposite sides of the road. Any one flexible element may also be pulled, or diagonally opposite flexible elements pulled, for angling the roller on the surface in order that it can be Zig- Zagged. 1n order to prevent the roller from being accidentally pulled off the rbad, suitable stops 16 may be provided at suitable intervals along the rails or side forms 14 against which the roller moves When reaching the edges of the road.

Figs. 5 and 6 shovv the carriage or bridge of Fig. 1 with modifications or additions. Th carriage shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be used as shown in Fig. 1, and, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the carriage has means connected with the roller or finishing device 7 for moving it across the concrete. For this purpose, longitudinal shafts 24 are provided at the opposite sides of the carriage frame, being shown as being located above the beams 17, and said shafts are journaled in bearings 25 secured to the ends of the trusses 18. The shafts have cranks 26 or other means at their ends for conveniently rotating the shafts. The roller has the same operating elements as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the roller is located betvveen the platforms or boards 15, with the flexible elements 9 secured to the shafts24 to be Wound thereon. By rotating one shaft the corresponding flexible elements 9 are Wound thereon to pull the roller across the concrete to the corresponding side or edge of the road, the opposite flexible elements being unwound from the oppositeshaft, and said opposite shaft may then be rotated to Wind the corresponding flexible elements thereon and move the roller y reversely. Either 'one or two men may beused for alternately rotating `the two shafts 24, and the roller may be moved across the road any number of times. Any one of the flexible elements may-bepulled When it is desired to pull 'only one end of the roller, for angling the roller onthe concrete surface should same be desired, and the roller will be straightened out longitudinally of the road When the flexible elements are again Wound on either shaft.

Angle bars or members 16` are secured to the beams 17 of the carriage frame and have lovver horizontal portions at about the same levels as the treads or upper edges of the rails orforms 14, With said horizontal portions projecting tovvard said rails. These `members 16 serve as stops to limit the movements of the roller transversely, and the lower horizontal portions of said members serve as supports or platforms on Which the roller can move to be supported from the carriage. Thus, the roller may be moved across either rail er form 14 onto the corresponding mem bers 16 to limit the movement of the roller,

and to support the roller from said members,

in which event the roller may be moved longitudinally of the road With the carriage. rThis enables the roller to be readily moved from one position to another along the road for the successive finishing operations, it

being' understood that the roller is moved longitudinally less thanthe. length of the roller, so that the surfaces finished in succession by the roller Will overlap.

Fig. 6 alsoshovvs the Wheels 13 as being double-flanged so that their flanges overlap the inner and outer sides `of the rails 14, and said Wheels are disposed on transverse axles 22 for transverse adjustment so as to accommodate roads of different or varying Widths7 as Will be apparent. The Wheels 13 at one side are maintained in transverse adjustment by means of collars 23 on the respective axles secured to the axles by means of set screws or other suitable clamping elen ments, While the Wheels at the opposite side are free to slide transversely should the rails 14 at the opposite sides be spaced apart different distances, such as When negotiating curves. The stops and supporting members 16 need only be used at one side, preferably at that side at which the Wheels 13 are maintained in transverse adjustment so that the members 16 will be maintained in close relation With the corresponding rail or form 14. It is desirable, however, to have means for stopping the roller at the opposite side of the carriage also to prevent the roller from moving off the road to the ground.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is z- 1. A travelling carriage movable over a concrete road or similar structure having means substantially flush With the surface of Athe road or structure for receiving and carrying a finishing device, normally unsupported from the carriage when said device is moved off the road or structure beyond one edge thereof.

2. A travelling carriage movable over a concrete road or similar structure, a finishing device movable transversely across the concrete and normally unsupported from said carriage, and means carried by the carriage beyond one edge of the road or structure substantially flush With the surface f said road or structure to receive the finishing device thereon when moved off the road or structure beyond said edge thereof, so as to support and carry said device from the carriage.

3. A travelling carriage movable over a concrete road or similar structure, a roller to roll transversely across the concrete and .o normally unsupported from said carriage and means 'carried by the carriage at the opposite edges of the road or structure to limit the movement-s of the roller and having portions substantially flush with the surface of the road or structure to receive and support the roller when moved off the road or structure.

4. The combination of a roller for preparing a concrete structure While in plastic condition, and a carriage movable over said 39 structure and having means flexibly connected to the roller for operating the roller transversely of itself without supporting the roller from the carriage and having means for supporting said roller for movement longitudinally from one position to another. In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

JOSEPH WILLIAM HELTZEL.V 

